Chapter Three #3
“No,” Ann was surprised. Michael had never said anything.
“He was,” Max moved his hands expressively as he talked. “Gains told me this morning. Michael convinced Dad not to. Michael also bought out my shares.”
“That I knew about,” she had helped to set up the dummy company. It had been quite the operation. It was one of the many things she admired about Michael. He did so many things for other people and never sought any credit.
“Really?” Max ran a hand through his hair making Ann smile. Both Noah and Max had the habit which Michael never did. Michael never seemed to be openly frustrated over anything. Perhaps that would change now, she reflected. “He needs a shave.”
“What?” Ann drew her brain away from her musings to try to listen.
“He needs a shave,” repeated Max. “I have never seen him not shaved.”
Ann had not either. She personally thought if he didn’t look like death half warmed over as Max put it, Michael might make the five o’clock shadow look very sexy.
“Max, he is going to be okay,” Ann hoped desperately that was true.
“You didn’t sound so sure of that on the phone earlier,” Max pointed out.
She took a deep breath. “There has been some residual brain damage from the surgery.”
“Brain damage?” Max stared at her in shock.
“It was not unexpected,” reluctantly replied Ann.
“You mean they deliberately damaged his brain?” Max stood abruptly. “I am going to sue.”
“Max!” Ann jumped to her feet. “It was necessary to hurt the brain to get the tumors out. If they had not gotten them out, he would have died.”
“What is wrong with him? What did they do to him?” Max was upset.
Ann tried not to cry as she riffled through her purse, finding the right sheet. “Here, it is called speech aphasia. This pamphlet explains it better than I can.”
Max took the sheet and began reading it. Noah came back into the room, pale and all the anger out of him. He gave Ann another hug. “Ann, I am really sorry.”
She nodded and let him go. She gave him a key. “If you can get Elle to go to my apartment, I will text her a list of what I need.”
“Sure thing,” Noah looked at Max. “What is that?”
Max handed the pamphlet to Noah who began reading. Ann reached out to lay a sympathetic hand on Max is arm, but he shook his head and walked a short distance away, struggling with his emotions.
“What is this?” Noah asked, holding up the pamphlet.
“Michael is…” she didn’t want to use the word disabled. He was not. Not in her mind. “Michael has that condition.”
“No,” Noah shook his head in denial. “Not Michael. He is smart. He has got a mind like a trap when it comes to legalities. He can go through a contract in minutes and pick out any defects. He gives speeches and leads meetings. No. This is not happening.”
“Noah,” Max said sharply.
“He cannot read the chart in his room. He tried and he can’t,” Ann is voice wobbled. “I haven’t heard him speak a single word since the surgery.”
Noah abruptly sat in the chair and put his head in his hands.
Max swore and kicked a chair. They may have been estranged for six years but he loved his brother. “Is there anything that can be done? Therapists? More surgeries to repair the damage? Anything?”
Ann wiped away another tear and shook her head. “No. The nurse said we could set up appointments with a speech therapist, but it won’t be for getting him to talk again. It will be for figuring out other ways to communicate.”
“You mean like sign language?” Max asked.
“That won’t work. Any alphabet-based program does not work,” Ann shrugged. “The letters are getting mixed up in his mind. She was talking more like picture cards.”
“Picture cards,” Noah said in disgust.
Ann turned on him angrily. “We will do whatever helps him, do you understand? If picture cards can help him communicate, then that is what he will get.”
Noah closed his eyes, ashamed. “I am sorry Ann.”
She blew out a large breath, trying to calm down.
“Ann is there something we should know?” Max gently laid a hand on her shoulder.
“What do you mean?” she asked tiredly, her emotions raw.
“Well, you are really upset.”
“And?” She wished he would get to the point.
Max searched for the right words. “I know that Michael has always been an intensely private man. I also know about those rumors that went around the company from time to time about the both of you… Are the two of you involved?”
She stared at him. “No.”
She looked at Noah who was looking thoughtfully at her.
“I have been his secretary for twenty-two years. It is a long time to work with someone. I respect him. He is my boss. We have become friends,” she tried to explain and looked back at Max who looked at her with pity.
Noah looked at Max, he was not convinced of what she had just said but he also didn’t know about the extent of her feelings like Max had just figured them out.
“Excuse me. I need to check on Michael.” What she really needed was to escape. She headed down the corridor and ducked into the chapel. Maybe it was best. She needed to pray that Max would not open his big mouth and tell his brothers about her feelings.